CIMM – Modernizing Canada’s Migration Systems – November 25, 2024

Key Facts and Figures

A fast, agile and reliable immigration system is critical to Canada’s success and ability to meet the changing needs and expectations of clients.
Over the coming years, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is undergoing a significant business transformation to fundamentally change the way it delivers services. This end-to-end digital transformation will be delivered through IRCC’s Digital Platform Modernization (DPM) programme.
We have had many successes in the short-term, including the launch of a new online account – which went live to a subset of clients in June 2024. Since launching, over 31K potential visitors to Canada have created an account and about a third have already gone through the whole application process on the new account to apply for a visa.
The new account will provide clients a single online window to access IRCC services, making it easier and more intuitive to apply for programs and services and receive real-time status of applications.
Feedback received from clients using the new online account has been very positive and we have implemented improvements already based on usability testing, demonstrating our ability to be agile, nimble and responsive to feedback.
Before the end of 2024, we will begin to roll-out a new online account to adults who would like to renew their passports. This will give eligible Canadians the option of renewing their passports online.

In parallel to the implementation of the new online account, IRCC has recently completed its final major procurement for a new Case Management Platform that will eventually replace the Department’s current Global Case Management System. This allows us to begin the work to redesign how we process applications with a digital first approach, starting with select economic permanent resident programs and temporary resident visitor programs.
The ability to renew passports online will provide eligible applicants a convenient and accessible way to renew their passport and eliminate the sometimes challenging endeavor of having to visit a physical office to complete the renewal.
Once complete, DPM will deliver a new service delivery model with redesigned and optimized business processes and new digital technology platforms with modern capabilities, all of which will result in an improved service and client experience.

The new online account will be rolled out in an iterative manner to additional lines of business over the coming 18 months, delivering incremental benefits and new features to clients along the way.
An amount of $36M is being sought through the 2024-2025 Supplementary Estimates (B) for DPM3 Tranche 2.
From July 2024 to February 2027, Tranche 2 will enable IRCC to modernize application processing, starting with select Permanent Resident economic and Temporary Resident Visitor programs. Tranche 2 will increase client satisfaction, reduce departmental technical debt and improve program integrity.
IRCC’s new migration system will be nimble, flexible and responsive to support growing volumes, actively helping us to: reduce application processing times; improve tools for our officers; meet the government’s immigration and diversity priorities; and respond to the changing needs and expectations of clients as Canada seeks to out-compete other countries for the best and brightest.

2025-03-18